VACATION IDEAS

50 Beautiful Photos of Ireland

Ireland offers some of the world’s most dramatic scenery, striking cities, and beautiful castles all on one island. From the colorful streets of Dublin to the inspiring heights of the Cliffs of Moher, here’s a look at the Emerald Isle’s most picturesque sites, featuring your best Ireland photos.

"Dunguaire Castle was not on our list of places to see; we just happened to stumble upon it on our drive from Galway to Killarney, Ireland. Finding lesser-known attractions along the journey is why we always rent a car when we vacation!"

"Few remnants of the early Rock of Cashel structures survive; the majority of buildings on the current site date from the 12th and 13th centuries. The picturesque complex has a character of its own and is one of the most remarkable collections of Celtic art and medieval architecture to be found anywhere in Europe."

"My wife and I were trying to avoid becoming forever lost in the maze of dirt roads, cattle paths and Gaelic road signs in County Cork, when we saw a sign directing us to a marina. As we turned down the side road to investigate, we were presented with this wonderfully picturesque image. It’s amazing what you find if you just get off the highway."

"My wife and I were driving through a quiet, desolate area in the Connemara region of Ireland when we came upon a flock of sheep making their way through. The speed limit sign was being followed to the extreme with these fellow travelers."

"From the Connemara region in County Galway is where the breed first became recognized as a distinct type, in a very harsh landscape,giving rise to a pony breed of hardy, strong individuals. Some believe that the Connemara developed from Scandinavian ponies that the Vikings first brought to Ireland."

"Built in 1843, the Muckross House, Gardens and Traditional Farms in Killarney are all free and open to the public, with guided tours of the house's rooms available for a small fee. The front entryway has a plethora of mounted trophy heads, including an enormous rack of antlers from the Irish Elk (extinct), found preserved in a local bog."

"We drove our car out onto Inch Beach, Dingle Peninsula, Ireland, and promptly got stuck in the sand. Despite the approaching storm, we got out and wandered around this beautiful,remote beach and waited for a local farmer to come pull our car out with his tractor."

"This is an image from my book, A Journey into Ireland's Literary Revival, about places in Ireland that inspired great Irish writers like William Butler Yeats, Lady Augusta Gregory, John Millington Synge, and Sean O'Casey. Here is the tiny island of Inishmaan, just off the coast of Galway."

"'Most of these fences,' the tour guide told us, 'are historic landmarks, and illegal to disassemble.' This one protects the abandoned-looking home on the shores of Gaelic-speaking Connemara, Co. Galway."

"Slieve League on the northwestern coast; the second-highest cliffs in Ireland. The breathtaking view is well worth the hike to get there. You can drive, but the road is very narrow and it's really so much more enjoyable to see it while walking. Sheep dot the landscape near the cliff's edge."

"A bagpiping corps follows a kids' float in the Waterford City, Co. Waterford, St. Patrick's Day parade. While all the locals stand around clapping hands and whistling for good ol' Padraig, the town mayor provides commentary on the event over the main street's loudspeaker system (only in Ireland…)."

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